Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria Is Closer Than Ever, Here’s Why

The two UFC stars have gone back and forth for years, traded plenty of criticism and even appeared to be on a collision course for one of the biggest events in UFC history. Then the fight fell apart. Now, somehow, it feels closer than ever.

The circumstances have changed dramatically. Makhachev is no longer the UFC lightweight champion. He's now the welterweight champion and the owner of the longest winning streak in UFC history after defeating Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330.

Topuria, meanwhile, is no longer undefeated.

Justin Gaethje handed him the first loss of his professional career, leaving the former featherweight and lightweight champion with something to prove. That may be exactly what makes this fight more appealing than it was before.

The fight almost happened at the White House

Makhachev vs. Topuria was reportedly being discussed for the UFC's White House event, which was supposed to provide the perfect stage for two of the biggest stars in the sport.

It never happened. And money quickly became part of the story.

Makhachev publicly claimed Topuria's team wanted around $20 million for the fight, a figure that allegedly helped derail the matchup. Topuria's camp disputed Makhachev's version of events, while UFC CEO Dana White pushed back on the idea that money was the reason the fight failed to materialize.

Whatever actually happened behind closed doors, the public fallout added another layer to the rivalry. The fight wasn't just something fans wanted. It was something both sides were talking about. And now, if it eventually happens, there will be plenty of history to sell it.

There's already some bad blood

Makhachev and Topuria have never exactly been best friends.

Topuria has criticized Makhachev's approach to the matchup, while Makhachev has questioned Topuria's willingness to actually make the fight happen. Their camps have also traded shots over the failed White House negotiations. That matters because the UFC doesn't have to manufacture a storyline here. The rivalry already exists. So does the curiosity.

Topuria believes he can beat Makhachev. Makhachev believes he has already accomplished enough to prove he's the best fighter in the world. Eventually, one of them may get the chance to settle it.

They've already beaten many of the same fighters

One of the most fascinating parts of Makhachev vs. Topuria is that we've already seen both men compete against some of the same elite opponents.

Charles Oliveira is the obvious example. Topuria knocked Oliveira out at UFC 317 to win the lightweight championship. Makhachev submitted Oliveira at UFC 280 to become lightweight champion and later defeated him again.

Then there's Alexander Volkanovski. Topuria knocked him out to win the featherweight title. Makhachev defeated Volkanovski twice while defending his lightweight championship.

The results don't necessarily tell us who would win a fight between Makhachev and Topuria. But they provide an interesting measuring stick. Both men have proven they can beat fighters who were considered among the best in the world. Now fans want to know how they compare against each other.

Topuria's loss could actually make this fight bigger

Before Gaethje, Topuria was nearly impossible to sell as anything other than the unstoppable star. He was 17-0.

He had knocked out Volkanovski. He had stopped Oliveira. He had become a two-division UFC champion. Then he lost.

For the first time in his professional career, Topuria had to deal with what happens when the perfect record disappears.

But that loss may have made the Makhachev fight more compelling.Topuria no longer needs to protect an undefeated record. He needs to rebuild. And what better way to do that than by taking on the biggest challenge available?

A win over Makhachev would immediately put Topuria back into the pound-for-pound and GOAT conversations. It would also make his first career loss look less like the beginning of a decline and more like a temporary setback.

The problem is that losing to Makhachev would be devastating. If Topuria returns and loses again, he would suddenly be staring at consecutive defeats after spending years convincing the world he was unbeatable.

Makhachev has even more to lose

For Makhachev, the stakes are almost the opposite.

He's already the UFC welterweight champion. He's already a two-division champion. He already owns the longest winning streak in UFC history.And, depending on who you ask, he's already the greatest fighter in MMA history. So what does beating Topuria actually give him?

Legacy.

Makhachev is 34 years old and appears to be entering the later stages of his career. If he defeats Carlos Prates next, as the potential next title challenger, he could eventually reach a point where there isn't much left for him to accomplish at 170 pounds. That's when Topuria becomes particularly interesting.

Another welterweight contender would give Makhachev another win. Topuria could give him the defining victory of his career. But there's a catch:

Makhachev would be risking everything he's built.

If the UFC's lightweight kingpin moves up and defeats the welterweight champion, the GOAT conversation gets even louder. If Topuria beats him, however, Makhachev's seemingly untouchable legacy takes its biggest hit. That's what makes the fight so dangerous.

Could Prates be the final defense before the superfight?

This is where the timing becomes fascinating. Carlos Prates has emerged as one of the leading contenders at welterweight, and Makhachev has already expressed interest in remaining active. If the UFC books Makhachev vs. Prates and Makhachev wins, the path becomes pretty obvious.

What else is there? Another title defense would certainly be important, but Makhachev's career is no longer about simply collecting wins. He's already done that.

A fight with Topuria would be the kind of matchup that could serve as the final chapter of his career. Not because Makhachev has to retire immediately afterward, but because there may not be a bigger fight left.

Topuria has everything to gain

For Topuria, the equation is simple. Beat Makhachev and everything changes.

He would have defeated a two-division champion and arguably the greatest fighter of his generation. He would have avenged the biggest setback of his own career by immediately taking on an even bigger challenge. And he would once again have a legitimate claim to being the biggest star in the sport.

For Makhachev, it's about cementing his legacy. For Topuria, it's about rebuilding his. That's exactly what you want from a superfight.

The UFC doesn't have to force this one

That's perhaps the biggest reason Makhachev vs. Topuria feels closer than ever.

The UFC doesn't need to create a complicated storyline. It doesn't need to manufacture bad blood. It doesn't need a championship to justify the matchup. The story is already there.

Makhachev has the record. Topuria has the knockout power. Makhachev has the wrestling. Topuria has the speed and boxing.

Both have beaten some of the best fighters of their generation. Both have held UFC championships. And both have something the other desperately wants.

Makhachev wants to cement himself as the greatest fighter in MMA history. Topuria wants to prove that one loss didn't derail his path toward that same conversation.

And somewhere in between is the biggest question in MMA:

Who is actually better?

That's why Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria isn't just a fantasy fight anymore. It's a fight that makes more sense than ever.